WVU fans, media, and staff react to passing of Jerry West

On Wednesday morning, the basketball world was delivered the devastating news that iconic player and executive Jerry West -- a West Virginia University alum -- had passed away at the age of 86.

Since the news broke, reactions from basketball fans -- both amongst the WVU community and worldwide -- have been pouring out.

Current WVU athletic director Wren Baker weighed in on social media site "X" with a tribute post that echoes most of the sentiments you'll see from fans of WVU sports and native West Virginians as a whole.

"His impact on WVU, West Virginia, and the sport of basketball all over the world is immeasurable," Baker said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Adding in from the WVU administration, the school's president E. Gordon Gee tossed in a statement of his own on "X" to remember what he describes as a "true legend."

"There will never be another Jerry West," Gee said.

Current and former WVU sports media personalities, many of whom have spent years of their lives covering WVU sports and grew up fans of the program and culture, also shared their thoughts on West's passing.

Amongst those prominent local media personalities weighing in include current Gold and Blue Nation reporter Anjelica Trinone, current MetroNews WVU analysts Jed Drenning and Randy Gyorko, former Charleston Gazette-Mail reporter Mitch Vingle, and former Dominion Post sports reporter Sean Manning.

"Absolutely devastating news this morning," Trinone said. "An absolute legend and one of the best West Virginians."

"Jerry West is the pride of WVU sports," added Manning.

West's inspiration for young athletes native to the state was also noted by many. According to WVU fan account EeerRational, West is who young West Virginians are first taught to look up to on the basketball court.

The father of current WVU home run record holder Grant Hussey also took a "X" to drive home that point via photo, sharing a picture of Hussey posing as a youngster with West.

To summarize West's impact, "X" user and WVU graduate Ryan Minnigh shared a personal anecdote about West for all to see. He recalled a call from his boss while working at the WVU Visitor Center about setting up a short-notice Father's Day event.

The event, as it turned out, was a private autograph signing with West to promote him bringing new items to the library archives. West inquired about a bathroom, but then quickly interjected as Minnigh went to direct the way.

"Look, I really don’t need a bathroom, I’m from West Virginia too, I’ll just go piss outside," West said, according to Minnigh.

Minnigh said it drove home to him the point that West is a true kid from West Virginia that had done a whole lot for the state, and that in his opinion, "West Virginia and WVU will always be better because of Jerry West."